It was wonderful to see many Charlton residents putting bowls of water for local wildlife in their front gardens during the recent heatwave. Time will tell how we are all going to fare in a changing climate but we can act now to help wildlife in our area.
Start with assessing which wildlife visitors you have in your garden, or which visit your balcony, and if there are others you would like to attract. Then consider how your garden or balcony could be changed to support wildlife. This does not have to be big things or food, just providing nest boxes, deadwood piles, creating a butterfly garden or planting a hedge would help, as would access to clean water.
To start us off here are the results of the mini CCRA Wildlife Watch in Spring, when we asked residents to record which wildlife visited their garden or balcony. Many thanks to everyone who took part. What follows is a summary of the wildlife seen along with general guidance about supporting wildlife and details of other useful organisations for more advice. It is not a complete guide, just a starting point to help support the wildlife that shares the space we live in.
Findings from Wildlife Watch in our area
Birds visiting | Butterflies visiting | Insects visiting | Mammals visiting (or in some cases living in gardens) | Also living in gardens |
Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Heron, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Goldcrest, Wren, Magpie, Parakeet, Dunnock, Crow, Seagull, Goose (flying over though!) | Small White, Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Ringlet, Cabbage White
|
Buff Tailed Bumblebee, Bumble Bee (species not identified), Hoverfly, Wasp, Fly, Mosquito, Ladybird | Foxes and Grey Squirrels | Snails, Slugs, Earth Worms, Woodlice, Spiders and Newts in ponds along with other aquatic insects
Of course boundaries don’t exist for some of these species and they wander |
Step 1. Identifying which animals are visiting your garden and/or which others you would like to attract. Planning to make changes is also important.
Firstly spend some time identifying which wildlife is visiting or living in your garden and when they come. There are many wildlife spotters sheets available online at https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/activities or alternatively buy Collins Book of British Wildlife for example to help with this task.
Assess your garden, or balcony, and work out which parts have the right conditions to grow plants to attract insects or birds for example. Or which would support habitats. Could you create a mini meadow, for example, or a small pond. Where could you put bird feeders, nest boxes or a bug hotel? It is important to plan to avoid wasting money by providing unsuitable habitats, plants, bird feeders or food.
As helpful overall guides look at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife
https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/
Step 2. Supporting wildlife: As discussed you do not need to feed wildlife. Providing water, shelter, or a place for them to breed is also an option. Please bear in mind that wildlife need to feel safe in your garden in any planning. If you have cats or dogs in the back garden, it might be better to consider using a front garden for example.
Consider that different species require different habitats and food, and therefore it is a good idea to do some research before changing your space or purchasing items in order to not be disappointed when wildlife does not use them. You also do not need to spend lots of money you could for example:
Create Habitats
– Make piles of logs or rocks for insects or frogs to inhabit.
– Build Bug Hotels. Solitary Bees like warm south facing walls with sunlight or light shade, Other insects prefer cool and damp spaces such as Woodlice. Spiders or Ladybirds are also possible inhabitants. The hotel can be used for hibernation and as a breeding burrow as well. There are plenty of examples of DIY Bug Hotels online.
– Plant suitable plants Plant ones that cover all seasons of the year or provide habitats, or naturally or attract insects for birds to feed on (See Step 3). Walls covered in ivy are good for insects, birds or solitary bees as an example.
– Water You could provide water to drink or bathe simply by putting a wide shallow dish in an open space in your garden. Place a couple of large stones or a rock in middle as a perch for birds. Wash regularly to keep bowl free from harmful pathogens. Or create a small pond.
Nest Boxes Birds nest in different way so it is useful to research before buying. Some birds will like a tight entrance (Sparrows), others an opened fronted one (Robins or Blackbirds). Make sure any nest box is placed in a suitable place. You could put hideaways in ivy or hedges for birds to take cover in or rest. The RSPB have an extensive range and also offer designs to make your own.
Feeding wildlife
There are different thoughts about feeding wildlife; particularly Foxes and even birds. Providing supplemental food to support a wildlife’s natural diet is a way forward or offering plants that attract insects for birds to feed on is another option.
If you would like to offer food to birds, they do need energy stores for winter to keep warm therefore suet balls are useful. Find a sheltered spot in the garden to keep them dry. More generally you could offer peanuts in a mesh feeder or crushed in a container type feeder. Kibbled peanuts, Nyger seeds, meal worms, or black sunflower seeds or some of the mixed or premium mixes are good. Do also consider which birdfeeder you should use for which food. The RSPB and Vine House (linked at end) offer advice here. Clean bird feeders regularly to help prevent spread of disease in birds.
You could also offer household scraps for birds such as soaked currants, raisins, sultanas, grated cheese. It is important to keep fruit off ground if you have cats or dogs as these are not good for them.
Over ripe bananas, or even banana skins are good for butterflies particularly in the autumn when they need more energy. Mush the banana inside the skins then make slits in various places. Put these or banana skins in small trees, hedges away or ledges away from foxes .
Foxes – As discussed, feeding Foxes is a controversial matter. The advice is either not to feed or feed irregularly. The food offered should also be appropriate i.e., similar to their natural diet, berries, fruit, cooked or raw meat or dog food. The amount should be small so that they keep foraging for food as this is their natural behaviour. Do make sure you remove uneaten food regularly and clean any bowls used.
Step 3 – Planting to feed bees, butterflies or birds all year round – Some examples:
Spring: Primrose, Garlic Mustard, Sweet Rocket, Aubretia, Honesty, Berberis, Dandelions. Early plants for bees to get energy are key at this time of year
Summer: Buddleia, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Salvia, Lobelia, Red Valerian, Hebe, Cat Mint, Heliotrope, Thyme, heads of Sunflowers and Dogwood which feeds Robins for example in late August – early September. Honeysuckle or Stocks (to attract insects for birds)
Autumn/Winter: Ivy, Hyssop, Ice Plant, Scabious, Michaelmas Daisy, Teasel, Burdock, Holly (need male and female to produce berries), Hawthorn (feeds birds, caterpillars and moths), Rowan and Cotoneaster.
Plants for butterflies/caterpillars. First of all see which butterflies are visiting your garden. They are quite particular in their needs for food and laying their eggs. Then research which plants or trees to plant. They need food when coming out of hibernation in Spring, food for energy in autumn and leaves in particular plants to lay their eggs on.
Sources: Wildlife Trust, RSPB, London Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation Organisation.
More info
Buy bird food and feeders www.rspbshop.co.uk Tel: or www.vinehousefarm.co.uk Tel: 01775630208
https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/
London Wildlife Trust www.wildlond.org.uk or www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk a collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society.
RHS plants for pollinators https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators or https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/how-attract-bumblebees-your-garden
Appropriate Food and Household Scraps for birds – https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/safe-food-for-birds/household-scraps-for-birds/
Setting up a CCRA Greening and Environmental Group?
CCRA would love to have an active Greening and Environmental Group that could take this work forward. If you are interested in getting involved then contact the Chair, Jonathan Sanders, email: chair@charltonresidents.net or call 07875054597.
Helping wildlife is rewarding and does not need to be just about providing food. Join organisations such as Wildlife Trusts, London Wildlife Trust etc., for general support and advice. There is much to enjoy with so much wonderful nature on our doorsteps.
To download a pdf of the above, please click here.